Pump construction for pumping abrasive materials

ABSTRACT

A PUMP IS PROVIDED WHICH IS CAPABLE OF HANDING ABRASIVE PLASTIC MATERIALS SUCH AS WET CONCRETE. THE PUMP INCLUDES A HOUSING HAVING A PRODUCT INLET PORT AND A PRODUCT DISCHARGE PORT? AND AN IMPELLER ROTATABLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID HOUSING. ONE WALL OF THE HOUSING HAS FORMED THEREIN THE INLET PORT AND IS MOUNTED FOR ROTATION AS A UNIT WITH THE IMPELLER. DISPOSED OUTSIDE   THE HOUSING AND MOUNTED FOR ROTATION AS A UNIT WITH THE IMPELLER AND THE HOUSING ONE WALL IS A PRODUCT FEED MEANS. THE FEED MEANS, WHICH ROTATING, IS ADAPTED TO URGE THE PRODUCT TOWARDS THE INLET PORT.

Feb. 9, 1971 1.. c. REEVE PUMP CONSTRUCTION FOR PUMPING ABRASIVE MATERIALS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 15, 1969 amNV PUMP CONSTRUCTION FOR PUMPING ABRASIVE MATERIALS Filed Aug. 16, 1969 c. REEVE 3 SheetsSheet 2 m\ %\N v I Feb. 9, 1971 c, E E 3,561,887

PUMP CONSTRUCTION FOR PUMPING ABRASIVE MATERIALS Filed Aug. 15, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent 3,561,887 PUMP CONSTRUCTION FOR PUMPING ABRASIVE MATERIALS Leo C. Reeve, Lombard, IlL, assignor to Portland Cement Association, Skokie, 11]., an unincorporated association Filed Aug. 15, 1969, Ser. No. 850,413

Int. Cl. F04b 19/22, 23/14; F04d 3/02 US. Cl. 417203 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pump is provided which is capable of handling abrasive plastic materials such as wet concrete. The pump includes a housing having a product inlet port and a product discharge port; and an impeller rotatably mounted within said housing. One wall of the housing has formed therein the inlet port and is mounted for rotation as a unit with the impeller. Disposed outside the housing and mounted for rotation as a unit with the impeller and the housing one wall is a product feed means. The feed means, when rotating, is adapted to urge the product towards the inlet port.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Heretofore in the handling at a job site of an abrasive plastic material, such as wet concrete, it has been a customary practice to utilize various combinations of wheelbarrows of either manually or power operated types, crane-operated buckets, hoists, conveyor belts and occasionally large, expensive and complex pumps with the result that such a practice has been a laborious, costly and time-consuming operation. Furthermore, the utilization of such apparatus normally required large areas for setting up and dismantling, and the talents of highly skilled erectors and/ or operators.

In instances where pumps were used for handling wet concrete, they normally incorporated hydraulically powered reciprocating pistons working in close tolerance cylinders with intricate and expensive hydraulically controlled valves, and thus, involved an inordinate amount of maintenance in order to maintain the equipment in proper operating condition. Thus, from an economic standpoint, it has heretofore been practical to utilize such cranes, hoists, conveyors and pumps only at projects where large volumes of the product are to be handled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a pump which is of low cost, compact and simple construction and is suitable for use at projects where the volumetric requirements of the product may vary over a wide range.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a pump wherein the impeller, feed means, and the housing thereof are disposed within a hopper in which the product is initially accumulated and thereby minimizes the need for maintaining close tolerances between various moving parts.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a pump which is capable of producing a continuous discharge flow and where friction between the various moving parts comprising the pump is at a minimum.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a pump which may be provided with a plurality of discharge conduits so that a single pump may be utilized to distribute substantially simultaneously the product to various locations remote from the pump.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a pump which may be easily mounted on the bed of a Patented Feb. 9, 1971 truck or other vehicle, used effectively while so mounted, and then readily transported, when desired, to various other job sites or to various other locations at a given job site.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a pump wherein loading or charging of the product into the pump housing is continuous and uninterrupted.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a pump wherein the direction of rotation of the impeller may be readily reversed when desired for purposes of pressure reversal and/ or cleaning.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description, accompanying drawings and appended claims.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention a pump is provided which comprises a housing having a product inlet port and a product discharge port formed therein. Rotata-bly mounted within the housing is an impeller and disposed outside the housing is a rotating product feed means. Both the impeller and feed means rotate as a unit about a common axis. Separating the impeller and feed means is a rotating housing side wall which includes the inlet port. The side wall also rotates as a unit with both the impeller and product feed means. An adjustable valve means is mounted adjacent the discharge port of the housing. The discharge port is open only when the valve means is in a predetermined position of adjustment. The adjustment of the valve means is in timed sequence with the rotation of the impeller.

DESCRIPTION For a more complete understanding of the invention reference should be made to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective top view of one form of the improved pump.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the pump shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 but reduced in size and showing the impeller and valve means in a changed position.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top view of the pump of FIG. 1 in a partially disassembled condition.

FIGS. 611 are fragmentary side elevational views of one form of an actuator mechanism for the valve means; the mechanism being shown in successive positions of adjustment.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, one form of an improved pump assembly 10 is shown which is adapted to handle plastic, semiplastic, or fluid materials (e.g., wet concrete). The assembly 10, as seen in FIG. 1, includes a housing 11, a drive shaft 12, a hopper 13 at the bottom of which said housing is disposed, and a product discharge manifold or conduit 14. The hopper 13 in the illustrated embodiment has vertically extending side walls 13a and downwardly inclined or sloping end walls 13b, all of which delimit a bottom of reduced dimension and cooperate to eifect downward movement of the accommodated product. The side and end walls of the hopper 13 terminate at and are supported by a substantially horizontal base plate 15. The portions of the side walls 13a defining the narrow ends of the hopper bottom 13c converge downwardly and thus prevent the product from accumulating in a remote portion of the hopper where it would be unaffected by certain component parts of the pump to be hereinafter described.

The housing 11, as seen more clearly in FIGS. 3-5, includes an anularly-shaped wall or race 16 which is affixedly secured by welding or the like to the end walls 13b and the bottom 136 of the hopper. An upper segment of housing wall 16 is provided with a product-dicharge 3 port 17. The end walls 13b of the hopper are supported in their proper angular relative position by a vertical partition 18. The housing 11 is preferably divided into two sections A and B of like configuration by a rotating vertically disposed circular common wall panel 19 which is disposed concentrically within the race 16, see FIG. 3. Wall panel 19 is in vertical alignment with partition 18.

In addition to the race 16 and wall panel 19, each housing section A or B includes a circular side wall which is axially spaced from panel 19 and is secured to and disposed transversely of drive shaft 12, see FIG. 1, so that the walls 19 and 20 and the drive shaft 12 rotate as a unit. The common wall panel 19, side wall 20, and the arcuate wall or race 16 cooperate to form a chamber into which the product accumulated in hopper 13 is continuously fed and then subsequently dischared out thrrough port 17.

A product intake port 21 of substantially sectoral configuration is formed in the side wall 20 of each housing section; however, the port 21 in the side wall of one housing section is disposed in substantially diametrically opposed relation with respect to the port 21 in the side wall of the other housing section. Affixed to the exterior of each circular side wall 20 and disposed adjacent the trailing side of the port 21 formed therein is an outwardly and angularly extending product feeding member or baffle 22. The lower edge of the baffle 22 is affixed to drive shaft 12 so as to rotate as a unit therewith. The angular disposition of the baffle is such that, when the shaft is turning in its normal direction for pumping the product out through discharge port 17, it will feed the product disposed adjacent of the bottom of the hopper towards the intake port 21 and into the housing chamber.

Disposed within the housing chamber and affixed to drive shaft 12 is an impeller 23, see FIGS. 3 and 4. The impeller, in the illustrated embodiment, is substantially wedge-shaped in cross section and extends radially from the shaft 12 and terminates adjacent the annular interior surface of race 16. The width of the impeller closely approximates the width of the housing section chamber. The impeller is disposed adjacent the leading edge of the intake port 21 formed in the side wall 20. The impeller 23 disposed within housing section A is diametrically opposite the disposition of the impeller in housing section B, so that when the pump is operating there will be a substantially constant rather than pulsating discharge of the product out through the discharge manifold 14. In view of the fact that the housing, the impellers, and the rotating baffies are all located within the product feed hopper 13, close tolerances between the various moving parts are not required and thus, the cost of manufacturing and maintaining the apparatus is materially reduced. If leakage of the prouct should occur within the housing, no problem will result as the leaked product will become intermixed with the remaining product in the hopper and be recirculated through the housing section.

In order to control the opening and closing of each discharge port 17, a valve assembly 24 is provided for each housing section A and B, see FIGS. 3 and 4. The assembly in the illustrated embodiment includes a partial cylindrical sectoral member 25 which is affixed to a horizontally disposed shaft 26. The shaft 26 is located outside of the housing section and the axis thereof is parallel to the axis of drive shaft 12.

The sectoral member 25 has an annular outer flange 27 of uniform curvature which is adapted to slidably engage the complemental curved surfaces of stationary sealing blocks 28 and 30 disposed on opposite sides of a discharge duct 31, the latter forming a part of the discharge manifold 14. The lower end 31a of duct 31 is properly shaped so as to closely conform to the curvature of the exterior surface of flange 27, as the latter oscillates through a predetermined sector. The exterior surface of flange 27 is interrupted by the outer end 32a of 4 a conduit section 32 which is carried by and forms a part of sectoral member 25. The lower or inner end 3211 of conduit section 32 communicates with the interior of the housing section A or B regardless of the position of adjustment of member 25.

In FIG. 3 the sectoral member 25 is shown in a discharging position whereby the upper end 32a of the conduit section 32 is in registration with the lower end 31a of duct 31. When member 25 is in its open port position (FIG. 3), the wall .320 which forms a part of conduit section 32, projects a substantial distance into the product chamber and serves to divert the product flow out through the port 17. In FIG. 4, the sectoral member 25 has rotated in a clockwise direction through an arc of approximately 50 to a port closing position. When member 25 is in the latter position, the lower end 31a of duct 31 is closed off by an imperforate segment 27a of the curved flange 27.

The movement of sectoral member 25 between the positions shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is timed with the rotation of the impeller 23 within the adjacent housing section chamber so that as the impeller is moving through an arc of approximately 260 towards the port 17, the member 25 will be in its port open position, as seen in FIG. 3, whereby the product accumulated ahead of the impeller will be forced out through port 17. The inner end of the shaft 26, on which the member 25 is mounted, is supported by a suitable bearing carried by partition 18. The outer end of the shaft, on the other hand, extends outwardly through the adjacent side wall 13a of the hopper 13. The movements of the sectoral members 25 are independent of one another and each is controlled by a separate timing gear assembly or actuator mechanism 33 or 34, see FIG. 2. The two gear assemblies are of like construction and therefore only will be described in detail hereinafter.

FIGS. 6-11 show certain components comprising the assembly 33 in various changed positions, as the drive shaft 12 is rotated in a counterclockwise (pumping) direction, indicated by the arrow in FIG. 6. Keyed to the outwardly protruding end of shaft 12 is a cam drive plate 35 which rotates at the same speed as the impellers 23, walls 19 and 20, and baffles 22. Afiixedly secured to the outwardly protruding end of shaft 26 is a first follower plate 36. The outer semicircular periphery of plate 36, in the illustrated embodiment, is provided with gear teeth 36a, which, in turn, mesh with like gear teeth 37a formed on the semicircular periphery of a second follower plate 37. Plate 37 is rotatably mounted on a stub shaft 38 carried on the exterior surface of hopper side wall 13a. Stub shaft 38 is horizontally spaced from shaft 26 and is parallel therewith as well as with drive shaft 12.

Cam drive plate 35 has a protuberance or pin 40 formed on the outer periphery thereof. The pin 40 may include a collar 40a which during a certain sector of movement of the plate 35 is adapted to engage (FIG. 6) and become accommodated in (FIG. 7) an open end pocket 41 formed in the toothed semicircular periphery of first follower plate 36. As the pin 40 moves with drive plate 35 in a counterclockwise direction, the collar 40a imparts a clockwise motion to first follower plate 36 causing shaft 26 to rotate a like amount whereby the valve assembly 24 will assume the port-closing position shown in FIG. 4. As the collar 40a disengages the pocket 41 of first follower plate 36, it enters a like pocket 42 formed in the toothed semicircular periphery of second follower plate 37, see FIGS. 8 and 9. As the pin 40 and collar 40a therefor continue moving in a counterclockwise direction about shaft 12, the second follower plate 37 is moved in a clockwise direction about stub shaft 38, which, in turn, causes the first follower plate 36 through the meshing peripheries of the plates 36 and 37 to move in counterclockwise direction about shaft 26 until the pocket 41 of plate 36 is in position to receive the collar 40a when it again reaches the position in FIG.

6. When the plate 36 is in the position shown in FIG. 6, the valve assembly 24 is in its port-open position, as shown in FIG. 3. Thus, it will be noted that the sectoral member 25 is disposed in its port-closing position for a relatively short period of time during each rotation of the impeller.

The follower plates 36 and 37 are provided with transversely extending protuberances 43 and 44, respectively. Each protuberance 43 or 44 is adapted to engage a substantially semicircular peripheral segment 45 of the cam drive plate 35. When either or both of the protuberances 43 or 44 are in engagement with the peripheral segment 45 (see FIG. 11), both of the follower plates 36 and 37 remain in a fixed position whereby the valve assembly 24 is held fast in its port-open position permitting the product to be discharged out through port 17 by the rotating impeller 23.

The gear assemblies 33 and 34, while of the same construction, are assembled differently with respect to the respective sectoral member 25, so that when the discharge valve members 25 are being adjusted, they will not simultaneously assume their closed port positions, thereby resulting in a more even flow of the product out through the discharge manifold 14.

To the upper end of manifold 14 may be removably connected a hose or pliable tube, not shown, which will enable the discharged product to be distributed to any desired location at the job site and thus minimize, or eliminate entirely, further handling of the product. 'It will be noted in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 that the duct 31 is inclined upwardly at a substantial vertical angle. Such a disposition of the duct in this instance is important in that the weight of the product head established in the duct 31, manifold 14 and the distributing hose, not shown, will effect a substantial downward vertical force being exerted on the pump assembly and will serve to help retain the base plate in a given fixed position on a truck or vehicle bed or other suitable support. While the aforedescribed duct angle is desirable, it is not essential to the operation of the pump.

While the illustrated pump 10 is shown as comprising a pair of similar housing sections, it is to be understood, of course, that the number may be increased or decreased depending upon the capacity of the pump desired. Furthermore, while the discharge manifold 14 is shown as having a single upwardly extending duct, it may, if desired, have a pair of discharge ducts, one being disposed adjacent one of the hopper end walls 13b and the other being disposed adjacent the other hopper end wall 13b. Various other mechanisms than that shown may be provided for effecting movement of the valve assembly in a timed sequence with the rotation of the impeller. In addition, the rotary common Wall .19 may be replaced by a stationary wall which would form a part of the partition 18. In the latter arrangement, the stationary wall would be provided with a suitable bearing for drive shaft 12.

Thus, it will be seen that a pump of simple and compact construction has been provided which is capable of economically handling a wide variety of plastic products. The pump is readily movable to various stations and permits the product to be distributed to numerous desired locations without requiring the pump to be moved or utilizing other handling apparatus such as wheelbarrows, cranes, etc.

While several embodiments of the invention have heretofore been described, it is to be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited thereto, but further modifications are contemplated and it is intended by the appended claims to cover such modifications.

I claim:

1. A pump for a flowable product comprising a housing having an arcuate stationary wall portion provided with a product-discharge port and an annular side wall portion disposed adjacent one side of said arcuate wall portion and mounted for rotation about a transverse axis coaxially disposed with respect to the center of curvature of said arcuate wall portion, said side wall portion being provided with a product-inlet port; an impeller disposed within said housing and rotatable with said side Wall portion about said transverse axis; means disposed outside of said housing and rotatable with said side wall portion for feeding the product to said inlet port; adjustably mounted valve means disposed adjacent said discharge port and adapted to regulate opening and closing of said discharge port; and timing means for effecting rotation of said product feed means, said side wall portion, and said impeller in timed sequence with the adjustment of said valve means whereby said valve means effects opening of said discharge port only when said impeller is passing through a predetermined sector of rotation.

2. The pump of claim 1 wherein said side wall portion, said impeller, and said product-feed means are mounted on a common power driven axle.

3. The pump of claim 2 wherein, upon rotation of said axle in one direction, said feed means effects initial movement of the product in a direction substantially longitudinally of said axle and said impeller effects subsequent movement of the product in a direction substantially transversely of said axle.

4. The pump of claim 2 wherein said timing means comprises an actuator member mounted on said common axle and rotatable therewith; a first follower disposed adjacent the periphery of said actuator member and mounted for rotation about a second axis spaced from but substantially parallel to said common axle, the rotation of said first follower effecting adjustment of said valve means; a second follower disposed adjacent the peripheries of said actuator memb r and said first follower and mounted for rotation about a third axis spaced from but substantially parallel to said second axis and said common axle; said actuator member being provided with a first means which is adapted to engage a complemental means provided on said first follower when said actuator member reaches a predetermined station of rotation and effects limited rotation in one direction of said first follower as said actuator member rotates in an opposite direction through a predetermined sector; said first and second followers being provided with means whereby the rotary movement in one direction of said first follower effects rotary movement of said second follower in the opposite direction.

5. The pump of claim 4 wherein said actuator member includes an arcuate peripheral cam portion which is adapted to engage means carried by said first follower and retains the latter in a predetermined position of adjustment While said actuator member is rotating through a second predetermined sector.

6. The pump of claim 5 wherein said second follower carries means which is adapted to engage said actuator member cam portion subsequent to the latter initially engaging said first follower means.

7. The pump of claim 4 wherein said first follower and said valve means are affixed to the second common axle.

'8. The pump of claim 4 wherein peripheral portions of said first and second followers are in intermeshing relation.

9. The pump of claim 1 including a hopper for the product, said hopper having a base on which said housing is mounted so as to be disposed within said hopper interior, and upright walls delimiting said base; the configuration of said hopper base and upright walls being inclined towards said product-feed means.

10. The pump of claim 1 wherein said side wall portion, said impeller, and said product-feed means form a unitary structure with said side wall portion being interposed one end of said feed means and one side of said impeller.

11. The pump of claim 1 including elongated product distributing means having one end thereof adjacent said discharge port and the opposite end thereof terminating at location substantially remote from said housing,

12. The pump of claim 11 wherein the discharge port is located in a top section of said housing arcuate wall portion and the longitudinal axis of said elongated distributing means extends upwardly from said discharge port.

13. The pump of claim 1 wherein said impeller extends substantially radially from the axis of rotation of said annular side wall portion; said impeller being disposed adjacent the leading peripheral edge of the inlet port formed in said annular side wall portion.

14. The pump of claim 1 including a second housing, a second impeller, a second feed means, and a second adjustably mounted valve means, all of the second elements being of substantially the same construction and cooperating in substantially the same way as the corresponding first mentioned elements, said second elements being disposed in spaced sidewise relation with respect to said corresponding first mentioned elements.

15. The pump of claim 14 wherein said first and second housings are separated from one another by a common partition forming a side Wall for each of said housings.

16. The pump of claim 15 wherein the rotary axis of said first impeller is coaxially disposed with respect to the rotary axis of said second impeller; said first impeller extending from said rotary axis in a direction substantially diametrically opposite the direction said second impeller extends from said rotary axis.

17. The pump of claim 15 wherein said first and second impellers, the annular side walls of said first and second housings, and said first and second product feed means are all mounted on a common axle 18. A pump for a fiowable product comprising a housing having a product inlet port and a product discharge port, and a unitary member rotatably mounted on said housing; said member including a wall section forming one side wall of said housing, said wall section being provided with said product inlet port, a product feed section disposed to one side of said wall section and outside of said housing, said feed section efifecting axial movement of the product towards said inlet port upon rotation of said unitary member in one direction, and an impeller section disposed on the opposite side of said Wall section and within said housing, said impeller effecting substantial radial movement of the product out through said discharge port upon rotation of said unitary member in said one direction.

19. The pump of claim 18 wherein said unitary member product feed section includes a helically shaped flange and said impeller section includes a substantially radially extending blade, said blade being adjacent the leading peripheral edge of said product inlet port formed in said wall section.

20. A pump for a fiowable product comprising a housing having a product inlet port and a product discharge port; an impeller disposed within said housing; productfeed means disposed outside of said housing for directing the flow of the product towards said inlet port; an upright product-accumulating hopper, said housing and productfeed means being disposed within said hopper and adjacent the bottom thereof, said product inlet port being continuously open to the confines of said hopper; and an elongated product-distributing means having one terminus thereof adjacent to and in communication with said discharge port and a second terminus disposed outside the confines of said.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,331,332 7/1967 Wennberg lO3-l53(C) LEONARD H. GERIN, Primary Examiner UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,561,887 Dated February 9i 197].

Inventor(s) LEO C. REEVE It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 5 change "unincorporated association" to -Illinois Corporation-- Column 3 line 16 change "dischared" to discharged- Column 3 line 17 change "thrrough" to -through- Column 3, line 53 change "prouct" to --product-- Column 6 line 56 change "the" to -a- Column 8 line 28 insert hopperbefore the period Signed and sealed this 31st day of August 1971.

(SEAL) Attest:

EIMARD M.FIETCHER,J'R. ROBERT GO'ITSCHALK Atteating Officer Acting Commissioner of Patent .-Ann r. nan nniccn USCOMM-DC 6037 

